From: Hannele Lehtikuusi
Subject: Finland, May 28
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 13:03:29 +0300 (EET DST)
Note that there is also another mailing:
The rpress release from the MPs.
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THE BILL ON PARTNERSHIPS OF SAME SEX COUPLES
FORWARDING IN THE PARLIAMENT
- Icelanders to vote on their bill in June -
The Finnish MPs submitted today a law bill on the partnership of
same sex couples. The first signatory was Ms Outi Ojala, MP of the
Left-Wing Alliance. The bill was signed by MPs
representing the Left-Wing Alliance, the Greens, the Swedish People s Party,
the Social Democrats, the National Coalition Party and the Progressive Liberal
Finns. The bill does not contain
right to marriage, nor church wedding and adoption. The law bill
corresponds to the policy adopted by the other Nordic countries.
After a preliminary debate in the Parliament the bill will be processed by the
Law Committee of the Parliament (the standing
committee on law-procedure).
Together with this bill Finland joins the number of the European
countries updating their legislation. It is a pleasure to note that the
MPs have felt it is important to advance this law. The MPs who
have signed this bill have clearly stated having an understanding of
justice. These MPs have also realized that this issue is related to
equality and human rights of citizens.
The debate on legislation and law bills on partnerships of same sex couples have
become routine in European countries today. In fact, changes are expected in
national legislations. Locally, progress has been made in some countries even
before changes in
the national legislation, by ensuring equality of gay and lesbian couples in the
local regulations e.g. in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain.
Today, it is possible to form a (legally binding) partnership for a same sex
couple in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Greenland.
In Iceland enactment is awaited before the beginning of the summer holiday of
the Parliament in Iceland. The law bill submitted in Hungary does not contain
right to adoption. Similar law bills have been submitted to the National
Parliaments in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and
initiative is in process alos in Luxemburg. The Parliament of the Netherlands
ended up to support the right of marriage to be extended to gay and lesbian
couples. The issue is under further preparation in a
committee of the Parliament of the Netherlands.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Hannele Lehtikuusi Mr Rainer Hiltunen
chairperson secretary General
SETA ry SETA ry
( Organization for Sexual Equality in Finland)
haski@seta.fi rainer@seta.fi